Motor-propelled vehicle.



B.l A. HEIF. MOTOR PHoPELLEnvEmcLE. APPLICATION mm vienna` 191e.

1,296,216. I 1 Patented Mar. 4,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

j L I w 'WITNESSES j x INVENTOR.

' fd/ff/ BY B. A. HEIF. 'M0T0RPR0PELLEDvEH1cLE- APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. l9lb`.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESSES A TTORNE Y,

B. A. REIF. IIIOI'oR PIIoPELLED VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED 050.26. I9IIs.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

' WITNESSES:

B. A. REIF. MINOR PROPELLED VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. 1,916.

Patented Mar. 4,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES BERNARD A. REIF,0F CODY, WYOMING.

MOTOR-PROPELLED VEHICLE.

Specication of Petters Patent.

l Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

, t' Application filed December 26, 1916. Serial No. 138,921.

To all 'whom t may concern p Be it known that l, BERNARD A. Rn1r, a citizen of the United States, and resldent of Cody, in the county of Park and State of Wyoming,'have invented a new and useful Motor-Propelled Vehicle, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to motor propelled vehicles and relates particularly to propelling mechanism therefor of the type com-l vdriving mechanism of my invention comprises the various features, combinations of features and 'details of constructlon 'herem- -Vafterdescribed and claimed.l

In the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is fully illustrated,

f l Fig..4.'is a sectional, toppen View of the, *driving line 4-4 of Fig; 3, the steering member of said gearing being shown, in dotted lines,

Figurel is a diagrammatic viewshow:

ving the general lay-out vof a propelling mechanism for vmotor vehicles of ,my invenf tion;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional, plan view of a perferredform of transmission gearing forming part of my improved propelling mechanism'. l

Fig. 3.is a combined side elevation and vertical sectional view of the, differential gear for driving the front wheels of the vehicle-and of the gearing by which the fronty i shafts 2 and' 3. As shown, also, the shaft 2 is in alinementy with the'engine shaft c, the bearing for said shaft 2, as shown, 'being wheels are driven from said differential.

turned into different positions ,which it will assume in steering the` car; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional elevations both,

taken on theline 5 5 of LFig. 4, Fig. 5 look 111g in the direction indicated by the arrows and Fig. 6in the op osite direction.

In Flg. "1, in whlc I have shown, in dial i' gram, a typical. lay-out for a four-Wheel rive of my invention A designates the g front axleA, A2 the. rontfwheels, B the rear axle, B', B2 the rear wheels, .C the transmission gearing through which ythe power from the engine is transmitted to both the front and rear axles, c the engine shaft, D the differential gearing for driving the rear axle which is driven from the transmissin lC by means of the transmission shaft al, E the differential gearing for drivingv the front axle which is driven from the transmission C 'by means of the transmission shaft e; and F, F the gearing for driving the front wheels A, A2, respectivelv, and -which are driven from the differential E in the manner presently described.

With the exception of the gearing F, F for driving the front wheels and the specific transmission C, all of the foregoing parts Y are old `and well known in the art and may be of any desired or approved construction. Persons skilled in the art can readily supply said parts and they need not, therefore, be described in detail.

The transmission gearing C may likewise be ofv any desired or ap roved construction,

what I Inow `consider t e preferable form Y thereof being ,that shown and described in Fig.2 of the drawings, and which I will now describe.

The-.operative parts of saidgearing areinlclosed in a suitable casing 1 which is adapted to be` rigidly secured -.to the chassis of the vehicle and which forms the frame in y which the parts of the tively mounted.

Rotatably mounted in suitable bearing-s in the casing 1, are shafts 2, 3' and 4, the transmission shaft d for the vrear axle being coupled. directly to the shaft 2, the transmission shaft e for the front axle be-j ing coupled directly to the shaft 3,.'and the Shaft 4 Ibeing mounted intermediater said gearing are operaformed `directly Vin the end of'psaidenginef shaft.

Thev shafts 2 and 3 are drivenfromthe vengine shaft c either directly or through suitable gearing. As shown, said gearing ros comprises spur gears 5 and 6 secured to rotate with the engine shaft c and with the shaft 4, respectively, gears 7 8 and 9 secured to the shaft'4 so as' to rotate therewith, and gears 10 and -11 splined to the shaft 2, the gear 10 being adapted tobe shifted endwise of the shaft 2 to cause the teeth'thereof to intermesh with the teeth of the gear 7 on the shaft 4, and the gearll being adapted to be shifted endwise on the shaft 2 to effect engagement thereof with the gear -8 and with an intermediate idle gear 12 which also meshes with the gear 9. The gear 10 is also providedv on the face of its hub adjacent to the gear with a shoulder 13 which is adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder 14 formed on the adjacent end of the engine shaft c, endwise movement of said gear in the proper direction operating to effect engagement of said shoulders 13 and 14, which thus form a clutch providing direct driving connection between 4the engine shaft c and said gear 10 and thus the shaft 2.

Rotation of the shaft 2 isimparted to the shaft 3 by means of gears 15 and 16 secured to rotate with said shafts respectively,

and with an intermediate gear 17 mounted to turn freely on the intermediate shaft 4, the relation being preferably such that sald shafts 2 and 3 will'be driven at substantially the same rate of speed.

Engagement of the clutch shoulders 13 and'14 effects maximum or high `speed of the transmlsslon shafts d and e and thus of -the vehicle, engagement of the gears 7 and 10 i l mit Apower from intermedi-ate speed, of the gears 8 and'll'low speed, while engagement of thegears 9, 11.

and 12 effects reverse movement of the transl mission shafts, and thus backward movement of the vehicle, all in a usual manner.

While I -consider the form of transmission 'herein shown and described as desirable and preferable, I do not wish to limit myself thereto, as other forms of .transmission available' for the purpose will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. j y

The'prin'cipal feature of novelty of my im roved vehicle .propelling mechanism resi es in the gearing for driving the front wheels A A? which I 'will now describe. As' the gearing for driving either front wheel is a duplicate of the gearing for drivin -lthe other, -a description of one thereof Awi l apply equally to the other, and the -accompanymg description is, accordingly, in the singular, bein limited to a description of the gearing or driving one of said wheels.

Power from .the differential E is transmitted to Vthe gearing for driving the front wheels. through a shaft comprising separate sections 18 and 19 which respectively transthe differential E to the garingfor driving thefront wheels A', A2, t e sections of said shaft being rotatably mounted in suitable bearings formed in the differential vcasing and in the front axle A.

As shown, the shaft section 18 is shown as Q applied for drivingthe gearing F ap lied to the wheel A', to which the following descrlptionwill be limited.

journal 30 Secured to the outer end of the shaft Section 18 which projects through the bearing on the axle A, is a bevel gear 20 which meshes with a bevel gear 21 secured to an upright shaft 22 rotatably mounted in suita'ble bearings in lugs or bosses 23 and 24 forming part of a housing 25 formed on or rigidl secured to the outer end of the axle y Aan which forms a tight casing inclosing the gears 2O and 21 and is adapted to contain aqu-antity of machine oil for lubricating said gears.

wise secured to Ithe lower fixed section 25.`

To provide access to the interior of the removable housing section 25 for inserting the bevel gear 21 therein andremoving itV therefrom, the top of said housing section'25 is closed by means of a cap or cover 27 removably secured thereto by means of bolts, screws or the like.

Rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in the lower end of the nut 26 and the upper side of the lower lug or boss 24 is. the steeri knuckle 28 formed on which isa lateral y extending boss 29 which termina-tes in a p on which the wheel A is rotatably mounted, the hub 31 of said wheel being provided with a bearing to which the journal is fitted and said wheel being secured in position on said journal by means of a nut 32 vthreaded to a reduced axial extension of said journal.

the shaft 22 extends.

With the described construction, itlis obvlous that the steering knuckle 28, the boss 29. and the journal 30 will sustain the entire load carried by the wheel A and, in order that the strains due to such load shall be transmitted directly to the housing 25 on' the axle A, said steering knuckle 28 is supported by means of -reduced axial extensions 33 and 34 on the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively, which are fitted to corresponding recessed bearings 35 yand 36 formedin the nut 26 and in the lower lug or boss 24 on the housing 25, respectively. Also, said steering Said steering knuckle is Aprovlded with an axial bore through which the interlocking bearing projectionsz33 and.

34 with the recessed bearings 35vand36 and the steeringknuckle 28 andthe opposed surfaces of the nut2f5 .and of the lug'or Vboss 24 on the housing 2,5, outside of saidfbearings ,p

37 and 38, is rendered dust and dirt proof by means of suitable packing rings -.sho'wny at 39 and 40. f The wheel A is driven from the shaft'22 by means of bevel-gears 41 and 42 secured'to 31 of the wheel A', respectively. Said ,gears 41 and 42 are inclosedin a suitable tight casing adapted to excludegdirt and the lower end of the shaft 22 and to thehub grit from said gears and which providesfor running said gears in `oi1 to reduce wearthereof. A's shown, said casing comprises j what may be termed a`body-1port1on-43, provided with bearings for the shaft 22 and the boss 29 on the steering knuckle 28 so l astube supported therebyz the lower side 44 andthe y outer side 45 of said casing being preferablyl removableto provide for assembling and r'emoving said casing andto renderthe intej j j i `'the vehiclewheel andthe gear on the fup'- riorthereof accessible if for any reason 'dei sired.` The; outer wall 45 of said casing Ais providedwith a bearing to which thehub of in and at `the same time form a tight joint. v

With Ithe described construction,"'itisob- .vious that the steering knuckle 28 wh'ichfcar-l` ries the journal 30 will be free to' turn ax ially to provide for lsteering the vehicle, as

, shown in Fig.` 4, and formed on said steering knuckleisan arm'46 adapted to-rbe connected tothe steering gear in a usual manner.

l I 'claim l 1.- Ina motor propelled vehicle, the com-` bination of an axle, a driven shafthavinga bearing in said axle, a housing'onsaidlfaxley v p bearing in said-axle, a 4'housing-on 'said v'as teering,knuckle provided with Aanla'xl a steering knuckle provided with anffixial` bore' mountedI in bearings in saidl housing 'l so as to be rotatable about an upright- 'ax1s, said steering-.lmuckle comprising assteering .arm and ajournal, a vehicle wheel rotatably mounted on said journal, driving` connec tion betweensaid driven shaft and vehicle wheel, comprising an upright shaft rota- ,shaft and on the steering knuckle, whlch incloses the gear on the vehicle wheeland asgqto 'be rotatable about Aan fr uprig tov said upright shaft, the housing'o1'1"-`-.,thev

steering knucklecomprising a steeringarm on'said axle and which extends tably mounted in bearings formedA inthe .f

therewith, :substantially as' described.

p 2. Ina motor vpropelled vehicle, thepfcoin-l bination `of an Vax le,-a driven 'shaft having a bearingin-.saidaxle, a' housingf'on said axle, 70

alsteering 'lmucklezf provided iwith an a iboremounted infbearings infsaid housi 'said fsteeringkiuekle comprising a' ste Aarmjand a vjournal,"a vehicle wheelrota y; 7 5

`mnmted on= saidjournal,drivingco ection between 'said'driven shaftiand 4vehicle wheel, comprisingan upright shaft;- tatably `mounted in 'bearings Vformed 'the .housing on .said axle and whichexteiids '-rthrou'gh "the bore in said steering'knuckle,

and',bevelggearsrsecured.to the-drivenshaft and tothe vehicle wheel and which`- intermesh, respectively, withbevel gears secured u `axle forming thebodyportionnof a casing ywhichin'closesthek gear secured to the'drive'n j v "shaft and the gear on said upright shaft j .which meshes therewith, saidcasing i-being provided with an opening through" w-xhfgif'shv vvv said gears may be assembled therein, tanda L removable cover therefor, and aseparate casing' which "incloses the gear secured' to right "'.shaftjwhich meshes therewith, 'said19r5 g, secondcasing'being-provided at one side-,of the gear 42 is fitted so as to turn freely therev 4 j a'bearingjiittedto 4a corresponding ,bearing formedonthe steering knuckle at-theinner the? gear secured to' the vehicle wheel with end of ythel:journalthereon and at i. the op- .positelside of said gear `with va Ibearing-,for t' apart .rotatable `withlthe vehicle wheel'ld being A'alsoprovided with-,a bearing forth'e'i f upright shaft, said casing .comprising removablefsides to rovide for assemblingthev` 19,5

"gears contained lt erein, substantiallyfasd- `Iii-nation ofl anlaxle, a; 'driven'.shaft aha,

al; bore-mounted in bearings in said housinjig'vrsoA l iasjtobe rotatableabQut-an upright axis-:said y and a journal, a vehicle wheelfrtatably .-'mounted on said journal, driving'connec-y tionf' between said driven shaft and vehicle wheel, comprising an upright 'shaft"rota housing on said axle and which ,extends-12 through the bore in said steering' knuckle,

said gears may be assembled therein, and a removable cover therefor, and said housing also comprising external lugs provided with bearings for said upright shaft, and a separate casing which incloses the gear secured to the vehicle wheel and the gear on the upright shaft which meshes therewith, said second casing being provided at one side of the gear secured tothe vehiclewheel with a bearing fitted to a corresponding bearing formed on the steering knuckle at the inner rend of the journal thereon and at the opposite side of said gear with a bearing for a part rotatable with the vehicle Wheel and being also provided with a bearing for the upright shaft, said casing comprising removable sides to provide Ifor assembling the gears contained therein, substantially as described.

4; In a motor propelled vehicle, the combination of 'an axle, a driven shaft havin a bearing in said axle, a housing on said ax e, a steering knuckle provided with an axial .bore mounted in bearings in said housing so as to be rotatable about an upright axis,

-f said steering knuckle comprising a steering arm and a journal, a vehicle wheel rotatably mounted on said journal, driving connection between said driven shaft and said vehicle Wheel, comprising an upright shaft rotatably mounted in bearings in the housing on said axle and which extends through the bore in said steering knuckle, and bevel gears secured to the driven shaft` and to the vehicle wheel and which intermesh, respectively, with bevel gears secured yto said 11pright'shaft, the bearings for said steering knuckle comprising interlocking axial projections and recessed bearings to which said bearing projections are fitted, engagement and disengagement of which are adapted to be effected by relative endwise movement thereof, one of said bearings being formed on a nut threaded to a hole in the housing on said axle toprovide necessary relative endwise movement of said interlocking bearings to veffect engagement and disengagement thereof, the housing on the axle forming the bodyportion of a casing which incloses the bevel gear secured to the driven shaft and the bevel gear secured to the upright shaft which meshes therewith, said casing being provided withy an opening through which said gears may be assembled therein, and a removable cover therefor, and

a separate casing which incloses the gear secured to the vehicle wheel and the gear' on the upright shaft which meshes therewith, the section of the casing which incloses the bevel gear on the upright shaft adjacent to said bearing nut being removable to render BERNARD A. REIF. 

